Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum at Canyon has named Becky Livingston as curator of history.

Museum Director Guy C. Vanderpool called Livingston an outstanding employee with a thorough knowledge of the historical collections at PPHM and a record that includes assisting in the recent Pioneer Town renovation.

Livingston graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in social science and a master’s degree in history.

She began working with PPHM as a volunteer with education programs and in the museum store and Research Center. She became a full-time terminal operator in the Registrar’s Department in 1998 and was promoted to special projects coordinator in 2008.

As curator of history, Livingston will be working to update the PPHM Petroleum Wing, which is located on the second floor of the museum. She will curate all PPHM history exhibits and hopes to add artifactsm, particularly those from the 20th century, to the museum collection.” Livingston has taken a number of professional development workshops through the American Association of State and Local History and the Texas Association of Museums.

“For over 11 years the Berrys have earned the respect and loyalty of their patients in the Amarillo area,” Practice partners John Todd Cornett and Craig Gladman, doctors of optometry, said in a joint statement. “We’re excited to welcome them to our Premier Vision staff to continue their commitment of providing the highest quality vision-care possible for their patients.”

The Berrys grew up 60 miles apart in the Texas Panhandle but met in Memphis, Tenn., at The Southern College of Optometry. After practicing optometry four years in the Memphis and Dallas/Ft. Worth areas, they returned home to their native Texas Panhandle to open a practice together.

The Berrys each hold the highest level of licensure to practice optometry granted by the Texas Optometric Board and members of The Texas Optometric Association and The American Optometric Association.

Dr. Stuart Berry is a graduate of The University of Texas. He has served on the board of directors of Goodwill and serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo.

Dr. Joy Berry is a graduate of Southern Methodist University. She has served with the Junior League of Amarillo, Center City Business & Professional Women, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council and the First Presbyterian Church board of deacons.

The Craig has been a part of the Amarillo community for over 16 years providing quality care through multi-level services to senior adults aged 55 and over.

Cheryl Harding, licensed nursing facility administator, is executive director. Harding has been with SMRS for more than 10 years and transferred to Amarillo from Abilene where she had served as the executive director of Wesley Court Retirement Community and executive director of Sears Methodist Community Services.

Before joining SMRS, Harding taught at the University of North Texas in Denton and has continued to teach as an adjunct professor at Abilene Christian and Hardin Simmons universities at Abilene. She has served on many nonprofit boards and is active in Leading Age Texas. She received her doctorate degree in family studies with a minor in gerontology from Texas Woman’s University.

Leah Ware, who is now Craig administrator, is a registered nurse and licensed nursing facility administrator. Ware has served in various positions with SMRS since 2001. She was director of risk management at The Craig from 2001 to 2004; administrator from 2004-08; and executive director from 2008 to 2011.

Before returning to Craig, Ware was at The Harrington Cancer Center in the position of Manager for The Harrington Breast Center. She has served as a member of the boards of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and Texas Leading Age, and as a Texas Leading Age Panhandle chapter representative and leadership development committee member. She is a graduate of West Texas A&M University School of Nursing and pursued administrative studies through Wayland Baptist University.

Linda Palmer is marketing director. Before joining Craig, she was membership sales coordinator for the Amarillo chamber. Palmer previously held the position of director of resident services at Continental Retirement Community at Park Central. She has served as board member for the Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo for more than seven years.

Ashley White is director of nursing. She has served in various nursing positions at Craig. She started her tenure in 2005 as a graduate nurse and has been Medicare coordinator, director of risk management and director of nursing. White has worked as a registered nurse at Harrington Breast Center and has recently rejoined Craig as the director of nursing.

Source: Sears Methodist Retirement System

Institute honors land agents

The Realtors Land Institute recently held its 2013 National Land Conference at Las Vegas.

The annual conference, which is attended by land professionals across the country, included a series of programs on the latest trends and issues facing land specialists in real estate.

Clift Land Brokers was represented at the conference, including by two award-winning agents.

Zurick Labrier, accredited land consultant, of Guymon, Okla., received networking awards for the Largest In-State ALC-to-ALC Transaction by Total Acreage and the Largest In-State Transaction by Sales Volume.

Sheldon Snyder, ALC, of Dalhart, received the award for the Largest In-State ALC-to-ALC Transaction by Total Acreage.”

Labrier and Snyder worked together in 2012 on a large land transaction that resulted in the honors.

The land conference is produced annually by the institute, an affiliate organization of the National Association of Realtors and a membership organization of land professionals.

Source: Clift Land Brokers

Credit union holds meeting

Education Credit Union held its 78th annual meeting on March 30.

During the meeting, three directors were re-elected to the credit union’s board. They are David Cargill, Place 7; Jody Richardson, Place 8; and Kel Spradling, Place 9.

Cargill has served nine years on the board. He currently is a staff development trainer for Amarillo Independent School District and an instructor for the Amarillo College Speech Department.

Richardson has been on the board for four years. He is retired from Camyon Independent School District where he was junior high athletic coordinator.

Spradling has served on the board for 17 years. She currently is director of federal programs for AISD.

Source: Education Credit Union

Firm celebrates success

Hi-Pro Feeds recently celebrated completion of its first year in operation.

Hi-Pro formerly was a division of Viterra, a large producer and marketer of commodities. It used to trade under the name Unifeed and Unifeed Hi-Pro Inc.

In April 2012, the division was spun off from Viterra following a management buyout backed by the investment firm Birch Hill Equity Partners. The company was renamed Hi-Pro Feeds after the existing U.S. brand.

Hi-Pro’s 429 employees manufacture, sell and distribute animal nutrition products and services to more than 10,000 customers who range from hobby farmers and lifestyle animal customers to large commercial livestock producers. The latter include dairy, beef, swine and poultry farmers, as well as horse and specialty products, such as fish and pet food.

Headquartered in Okotoks, Alberta, Canadan, Hi-Pro Feeds has 14 facilities across western Canada and the southwestern United States, including plants at Friona and Clovis, N.M.

Educators who shop at Barnes & Noble during Educator Appreciation Days will receive:

As part of Educator Appreciation Days, Barnes & Noble stores will host special workshops for pre-K through grade 12 teachers, librarians, curriculum specialists and administrators focusing on the Common Core State Standards, NOOK in the Classroom, homeschooling, grant writing and more.

Homeschooling will be another key focus during Educator Appreciation Days.

“Many homeschool teachers aren’t aware that they’re eligible for the Barnes & Noble Educator Discount Card,” said Sarah DiFrancesco, director of business development. “They’re also eligible for bulk pricing just like a school or district, so long as they purchase jointly through an association.”

Educators are encouraged to visit the NOOK in Education website — www.nook.com/education — created to showcase NOOK technology and solutions for today’s classroom.

Source: Barnes & Noble

Management firm makes hire

Christopher Finlay, president/CEO of Finlay Management, has announced the appointment of Jim Eddings as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Eddings has served the company as CFO for the past several years as the company expanded services throughout Texas, Florida and the Southeast.Before joining Finlay, he was CFO or divisional CFO for both privately held and publicly traded companies.

His experience includes both domestic and international companies with revenues ranging from $5 million to $240 million and in industries that include multifamily real estate development, construction and telecommunications.

Eddings earned a master’s of business administration degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in finance and accounting and a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University in Russian Studies. He is a certified public accountant and a certified management accountant.

Finlay Management is a multifamily property management firm with a 30-year history in market-rate/luxury apartments, affordable housing and senior living. The company manages The Granite at Olsen Park, formerly known as Heritage House Apartments.